Antimicrobial peptides have been developed based on plant-derived molecular scaffolds for the treatment of infectious diseases. Chenopodin is an abundant seed storage protein in quinoa, an Andean plant with high nutritional and therapeutic properties. Here, we used computer- and physicochemical-based strategies and designed four peptides derived from the primary structure of Chenopodin. Two peptides reproduce natural fragments of 14 amino acids from Chenopodin, named Chen1 and Chen2, and two engineered peptides of the same length were designed based on the Chen1 sequence. The two amino acids of Chen1 containing amide side chains were replaced by arginine (ChenR) or tryptophan (ChenW) to generate engineered cationic and hydrophobic peptides. The evaluation of these 14-mer peptides on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli showed that Chen1 does not have antibacterial activity up to 512 µM against these strains, while other peptides exhibited antibacterial effects at lower concentrations. The chemical substitutions of glutamine and asparagine by amino acids with cationic or aromatic side chains significantly favoured their antibacterial effects. These peptides did not show significant hemolytic activity. The fluorescence microscopy analysis highlighted the membranolytic nature of Chenopodin-derived peptides. Using molecular dynamic simulations, we found that a pore is formed when multiple peptides are assembled in the membrane. Whereas, some of them form secondary structures when interacting with the membrane, allowing water translocations during the simulations. Finally, Chen2 and ChenR significantly reduced SARS-CoV-2 infection. These findings demonstrate that Chenopodin is a highly useful template for the design, engineering, and manufacturing of non-toxic, antibacterial, and antiviral peptides.

Ilex guayusa Loes. is a shrub native to the Neotropics, traditionally consumed as an infusion. Despite its cultural value and extensive use, genetic research remains scarce. This study examined the genetic and clonal diversity of guayusa in three different Ecuadorian Amazon regions using 17 species-specific SSR markers. The results obtained suggest a moderately low degree of genetic diversity (He = 0.396). Among the 88 samples studied, 71 unique multilocus genotypes (MLGs) were identified, demonstrating a high genotypic diversity. A Discriminant Analysis of Principal Components (DAPC) revealed the existence of two genetic clusters. We propose that a model of isolation-by-environment (IBE) could explain the genetic differentiation between these clusters, with the main variables shaping the population’s genetic structure being temperature seasonality (SD × 100) (Bio 4) and isothermality ×100 (Bio 3). Nonetheless, we cannot dismiss the possibility that human activities could also impact the genetic diversity and distribution of this species. This study gives a first glance at the genetic diversity of I. guayusa in the Ecuadorian Amazon. It could assist in developing successful conservation and breeding programs, which could promote the economic growth of local communities and reinforce the value of ancestral knowledge.

Antioxidants are essential compounds with diverse applications, and medicinal plants are a natural source of these biomolecules. Philodendron heleniae, a species native to the Ecuadorian Amazon, belongs to a genus renowned for its traditional therapeutic uses. Extracts from the stems and roots of several Philodendron species have been widely used to treat stress, bladder disorders, and snakebite wounds, underscoring their medicinal potential. This study investigates the volatile composition, antioxidant properties, and molecular docking of ethanolic extracts from P. heleniae, aiming to expand its applications. Phytochemical analysis revealed a rich profile of tannins, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and terpenoids. Antioxidant assays (ABTS and DPPH) demonstrated the extract’s strong free radical scavenging capacity, comparable to the standard Trolox. GC-MS analysis identified 48 volatile and semi-volatile metabolites, predominantly phenolic compounds, terpenoids, and lipid-like molecules. Fractionation of the crude ethanolic extract into aqueous and ethanolic fractions simplifies the downstream analytical steps and facilitates the identification and the evaluation of the higher abundance of antioxidant-related metabolites. Molecular docking supported these findings, highlighting strong binding affinities of stigmasterol and desmosterol to catalase, an enzyme critical for reducing oxidative stress. These results position P. heleniae as a promising source of natural antioxidants with potential pharmaceutical applications, while emphasizing the importance of conserving Ecuador’s biodiversity and its bioactive resources.

This work studies the underexplored potential of Ilex guayusa and demonstrates the influence of geographical (locations: A, B, C) and ontogenetic (young: 0; old: 2) factors on its biochemical profile. The total phenolic content (TPC) was consistently higher than the total flavonoid content (TFC) in all samples, with the highest values for site B: B2 for TPC (77.91 μg GAE/mg extract) and B0 for TFC (6.77 μg QE/mg extract). GC–MS identified 29 metabolites, and clustering analysis grouped samples B and C as rich in phenols and flavonoids, while site A was richer in alcohols, aldehydes, and hydrocarbons. Antioxidant potential was demonstrated, with B2 being the most active in ABTS (TEAC value of 0.3885 (mg/g dw)), whereas A2 and C2 showed the strongest activity in DPPH (0.0968 and 0.1850 (mg/g dw), respectively). No sample exhibited hemolysis and α-amylase inhibition; however, α-glucosidase inhibition was observed with the best activity for B0 (IC₅₀ = 68.05 µg/mL). Molecular docking, ADME, and correlation analyses indicated that B0 had the highest TFC, DPPH, and α-glucosidase inhibition values, while B2 showed the highest TPC and ABTS activity. Overall, the promising antioxidant and hypoglycemic activity combined with low toxicity highlights and expands the therapeutic and applicative potential of the species.

Trametes polyzona is a white-rot basidiomycete with increasing relevance in environmental biotechnology due to its ligninolytic enzymes, biodegradation capacity, and versatile metabolic responses to diverse substrates. To provide an integrated and updated understanding of its biotechnological potential, we conducted a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines. A total of 46 studies published between 1991 and 2024 were analyzed, covering enzymatic production profiles, degradation of xenobiotics, extraction of bioactive metabolites, and experimental conditions influencing performance. Across the literature, T. polyzona consistently exhibits high ligninolytic activity, including laccase specific activities reported up to 1637 U/mg, together with efficient transformation of dyes, pesticides, and phenolic pollutants, and promising antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. However, substantial methodological heterogeneity was identified, particularly in strain characterization, fermentation parameters, and analytical approaches used to quantify enzymatic and biodegradation outcomes. These inconsistencies limit cross-study comparability and hinder process standardization. This review integrates current evidence; highlights critical gaps, such as limited ecotoxicological assessment of degradation products and scarce multi-omics characterization; and identifies key opportunities for process optimization in submerged/solid-state fermentation, bioreactor scaling, and the valorization of fungal metabolites. Overall, T. polyzona remains an underutilized resource with distinct advantages for applied mycology, environmental remediation, and industrial biotechnology.